Unfortunately, most of us have been there and done it… dropped our most prized possession in water.

We’re a nation obsessed with SmartPhones and gadgets. We take them almost everywhere; it’s the first thing some of us look at in the morning, and the last thing some of us look at at night. We take them on beach holidays, to water parks, and we even take them with us in the bathroom. So what are the different ways of rescuing water-damaged devices? Is there a better fix than rice?

• It goes without saying really, but make sure you remove it from water as soon as possible. The longer the device is getting wet, the more likely it is that the water is seeping into the open ports (headphones and charging ports etc.).

• Dry off your device with a clean towel and turn it off immediately.

• If your device has a removable batter or a SIM card, remove these straight away and dry carefully with a towel.

• Avoid using a hairdryer to dry the device because the intense heat can damage it.

• Place your device in a substance that draws out and absorbs the remaining moisture – uncooked rice is the most common (and cheapest method) but it doesn’t have a 100% success rate.

• You could try the Bheestie Revive Bag (£10.50), which markets itself as ‘first aid for your phone.’ The bag consists of 2 small packets of beads, which contain microscopic pores to bond with the water molecules and extract the moisture from the water-damaged device.

• Another option is to place the device in a bowl of silica gel (those packets that come with some electronic components). You might be able to buy them in bulk from selected craft shops, or you might be able to gather up enough from home…

• If your device is wet, don’t use a charger – you will be in danger of short-circuiting the logic board. Leaving the device completely turned off for 24 hours or so is widely considered best practice.

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** Depending on what is selected during the application process.

^ For each 12 month policy period you can claim once for theft or loss (when selected) and an unlimited number of times for
accidental damage for gadgets. For appliances, you can claim up to 3 times for any peril covered during the 12 month policy period.

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